The bit rate is the main factor affecting the quality. The higher the bit rate - the higher the quality. But in addition to the choice of bitrate, we have a choice of algorithms for best scale factors and Huffman coding.

-q 0: use the slowest and the highest quality algorithms. -q -q 0 and 1 are slow and can not provide a significant increase of quality.

-q 2: recommended. Similarly -h key.

-q 5: good speed, reasonable quality.

-q 7: Same key -f. Very fast encoding of acceptable quality. Psychoacoustics is used to pre-echoes and M / S, the noise masking is not performed.

The best way of learning this is reading this page: https://www.whatinterviewprep.com/it/prepare-for-the-interview/spectral-analysis/

I do not like this article, why not show the difference coding for different encoder settings. I say about 320 kbps. Other quality (like 256, 192, 128) not intereting because it will update till maximum - 320 kbps.

jakmak, you have said it. Whats the point of releasing all these deluxe and every other special editions, and then take all the sound out of it by compressing the piss out of it. Storage is so cheap, no reason to go anything less than FLAC, at least have FLAC as 1 option for those that want it. Thank You.